WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States will retain its military ties with Egypt, but recent violence by the army is jeopardising the relationship, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel told the country's military chief on Thursday.

"The Department of Defence will continue to maintain a military relationship with Egypt, but I made it clear that the violence and inadequate steps towards reconciliation are putting important elements of our long-standing defence cooperation at risk," Mr Hagel said in a statement, recounting his phone call on Thursday to General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.